We’re all keen to seem like good guests when invited to someone else’s home for supper. The same holds true in someone else’s country. Korean etiquette, though, can seem ritualized and a little overwhelming, so we tapped a panel of experts (as well as our own Korean know-how) to create a primer.

How to Eat Like a Local

At many restaurants, you’ll be expected to set your own place with chopsticks or spoons stored in a drawer under the table. Likewise, don’t wait for the staff to come over; if you need to order, raise your hand to summon them.

Some Asian cultures encourage you to lift a bowl closer to your mouth, better to slurp up the soupy goodness. Korea is an exception: That bowl should stay on the table. Instead, you should bend gently toward it.

Another good rule: Never decline food when it’s offered to you, whether at a table or from a food stall. “I once refused a free sample from an elderly gentleman selling street food, and when I went back to his store later, he refused to serve me,” says One Weird Globe’s Chris Backe. Always take a sample, say thank you, and walk on. “Accepting it is crucial to being respectful.”

Lay your chopsticks to one side once you’ve finished. If you stick them into a bowl of rice, it resembles the funerary practice, where incense sticks are displayed that way. And unlike in the U.S., Access to Asia author Sharon Schweitzer warns that cleaning your plate actually isn’t a sign of satisfaction. “Leave food on your plate, or the host may lose face because it will appear that they didn’t serve enough food,” she says.

How to Drink Like a Local

If you’re thirsty, ask someone at the table for a refill, whether water, wine, or whisky. It’s considered bad luck to pour your own drink. You won’t likely need to ask, though. “It’s rude to have an empty glass, so people will always top it off,” says U.S.-based expat Tony Kim. “If you’ve had enough to drink, do not empty your glass.”

Soju, Korea’s national liquor, is served in a shot glass, and many locals will slam a snifter—before it’s instantly refilled by one of their friends. But soju is strong (around 16-20 percent ABV) so sip it slowly if you want to remember the rest of the evening.

It’s even harder to stay semi-sober, given the Korean tradition of toasting: The host will offer the first, the guest of honor the next, and everyone else will follow. Even if your fellow drinkers drain (and refill) their glasses each time, it’s polite enough to simply take a sip.

Rules to Shop By

For hygiene reasons, some stores might not allow you to try on clothes before you buy, so be extra certain before you splurge. And that employee hovering behind you while browsing hasn’t assumed you’re a shoplifter-in-waiting; rather, they're there to answer any questions or offer assistance.

If you buy beauty products, expect to be deluged with samples and freebies of other brands, especially at a high-end department store’s cosmetics hall.

Myeong-dong shopping district is packed with high-end department stores. Expect lots of free samples in the cosmetics hall.

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How to Greet People

The codified culture of bowing in greeting can be intimidating to outsiders. “Don’t bow to anyone—as a tourist, you’re off the hook and are basically outside the social pecking order,” says Backe. A small bow, from the waist, will be appreciated if you meet someone elderly or a senior colleague. Stateside, it’s custom to hold doors for each other, but there’s no such expectation here.

Don’t be afraid to skip a tip, either. In fact, leaving a few extra pennies is ruder than simply settling the check. “Tipping can be an insinuation for ‘extra services,’ which is frowned upon,” says New York-based expat Michelle Kwak.

How to Navigate the Jimjiibang

The jimjiibang is a Korean mainstay: a hangout-friendly spa with cold, warm, and hot pools. At some, you can even spend the night, if you wish. Most spas are separated by gender, and you’ll be expected to enjoy them fully naked—indeed, swimsuits are considered dirty. Before you enter the spa’s pools, strip naked and shower thoroughly with soap and shampoo.

After lounging in the pools, many Koreans will undergo a full body scrub, using a rough mitten to slough off any dead skin. “It’s typical for Koreans to scrub their friends, and even random strangers, so don’t be offended if someone comes up to you to volunteer to scrub you,” says travel blogger Sher Jordan.

How to Get Around

Seoul’s transport system is simple: There are buses, subways, and taxis, all of which can be paid using a T-Money card. You can buy this card at any subway or any store that displays the T logo—and that’s how you can refill the card, too.

At the front end of the bus or subway car, look for a trio of seats that are reserved for the elderly, infirm, or pregnant. “I’d steer clear of these seats,” says Taylor Pond, who serves as administrative director of Husson University’s program for students from Seoul. “Some people are more picky about this than others and will tell you to move, or you might just get the stink eye.”

Whenever you’re on a train or bus, stay sotto voce: One common complaint about Western visitors to Korea is the loudness of their voices. Simple rule of thumb: indoor voice, at all times.